Menard Mponda

The African music scene in Finland evolved in major cities in the 1980s and 1990s, and some of the pioneering musicians who contributed to this development are still active in the field. In this article, musicologist Elina Seye explores the early years of the arrival of multiple kinds of African traditional music in Finland and discusses some of the people and groups involved.

"The final entirety ends up being amazingly peaceful, full of understanding and musical equality. As a good dialogue should be."

Helsinki-Cotonou Ensemble fuses West African rhythms to an array of jazz, funk and rock for a high-energy sound that appeals to heart, head and feet. Born in Benin in 2009, the band has won fans with high-energy live shows on three continents.